Woman's Hour

Laura Kuenssberg is the presenter of the BBC’s flagship political interview programme Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg, having been the BBC’s political editor between 2015 and 2022. After two decades covering British politics, she joins Clare McDonnell to discuss her new book Pay Attention. It is an attempt to get underneath barely controlled chaos in Westminster, offering insights into women in political life, as well as her own experiences of being trolled and targeted.
Some economists and think tanks have warned of a difficult few years ahead after the latest forecasts from the Office for Budget Responsibility pointed to weaker economic growth and continued pressure on living standards. Chancellor John Healey has argued that last week's Budget will give households some "breathing space" on the cost of living, while acknowledging that government cannot completely shield people from financial pressures. But how is this economic outlook impacting women? Clare is joined by Trinh Tu, Chief Executive of Ipsos UK, who has new polling to share exclusively with Woman's Hour; Louisa Matthews, Chief Executive of Nottingham Women's Centre, which supports women facing hardship; and Professor Sarah Marie Hall from the University of Manchester, who leads the major research project Austerity and Altered Life-Courses.
Eighteen-year-old Sofia Demetriades, a violinist, has won the BBC Young Musician of the Year 2026. She won after competing in the competition's first-ever all-female final. For her final performance she played Tchaikovsky’s violin concerto, accompanied by the BBC National Orchestra of Wales. It was described by the BBC Young Musician 2026 judges as a performance 'with authority and thrilling virtuosity'. Clare is joined by musician and composer Errollyn Wallen who was one of the Judges of this year's competition.
One in three new mothers enter motherhood without the support of their own mother due to either bereavement, estrangement or illness.
That figure comes from research from the charity Motherless Mothers who raising awareness of the impact of this loss through its Unmuted campaign. Of the women they spoke to they say most experienced the impact of maternal absence weekly, with nearly 90 percent saying it often leaves them feeling alone. Kennedy Frampton, a mother of two girls and Adina Belloli, a psychotherapist and co-founder of the charity join Clare to discuss.
Presenter: Clare McDonnell
Producer: Dianne McGregor

Nearly 10 years after the Larry Nassar case exposed the abuse of hundreds of young women and girls in gymnastics in the US, are athletes any safer today? The judge who sentenced him, Rosemarie Aquilina, has spent the years since campaigning for reform and says progress has been far too slow. She argues that too many sporting organisations still prioritise medals and success over athletes' welfare. She explains her concerns to Anita Rani.
Philippa Gregory is one of the world’s bestselling historical novelists. Her books have reimagined the lives of powerful and often overlooked women from Britain’s past. She joins Nuala McGovern to discuss her latest novel, Royal Witch, which tells the story of Eleanor Cobham, an ambitious noble woman in the court of Henry V who used astrology and other "dark arts" in her attempt to gain power.
And millions of people practise yoga worldwide, and women make up the vast majority of practitioners. There is now a growing movement that wants to see yogasana recognised as an Olympic sport and this has been supported by the Indian government who are calling for its inclusion ahead of the country’s bid to host the 2036 Games. To discuss the arguments for and against this, Nuala is joined by yogsana competitor Laura McDonald and yoga teacher Divya Kohli.
Presenter: Anita Rani
Producer: Mora Morrison

Bonnie Garmus became a global publishing phenomenon when her debut novel Lessons in Chemistry was released. Set in the 1950s and 60s, the story of talented chemist Elizabeth Zott was inspired by her own experience of sexism in the workplace. It sold nine million copies, has been translated into 40 languages and turned into an Emmy-winning TV series starring Brie Larson. Now Bonnie is back with her second novel, Peck & Peck, which tells the tale of a young man whose life is turned upside down when he starts working at the world’s most prestigious poetry journal. She joins Anita Rani in the studio.
The comedian Russell Brand has been in the witness box giving evidence in his defence at the trial in which he faces three charges of rape, three charges of sexual assault and one charge of indecent assault against six women. He has denied all the charges. The allegations span 10 years from 1999 to 2009. The trial at Southwark Crown Court in London began just over two weeks ago. On Wednesday Russell Brand himself took the stand for the first time and yesterday his wife Laura gave evidence. Sima Kotecha, the BBC's Senior UK Correspondent, has been in court and speaks to Anita.
This week marks a historic shift for Britain's most famous shopping street. Cars, taxis, cyclists and several bus routes are now banned from large sections of Oxford Street in London as the first phase of a £150 million pedestrianisation project gets under way. Supporters claim the transformation will create a greener, cleaner and more accessible space, while also providing an opportunity to rethink how public spaces can better meet the safety needs of women and girls. Dr Ellie Cosgrave, Director of the Inclusive Cities Team at Publica and Professor of Inclusive Design at Chelsea College of Arts and Abigail Gaines from Make Space York and charity manager of the Friends of Rowntree Park, York join Anita to discuss.
If ghosts and witches don't send a shiver down your spine this Halloween, how about the vampiress? Bloodthirsty, seductive, sexually voracious, terrifying- and very much female. We tend to think of vampires as men, thanks to Dracula, but in fact some of the earliest depictions of vampires - and vampiric monsters - were women. To discuss monstrosity and misogyny in culture throughout the ages, Anita is joined by Professor Eleanor B Johnson from Columbia University, author of the new book, Monstrous Bitch: A History of Terrifying Women and by Dr Emily Middleton from the University of Leeds, who is involved in a new exhibition, Quite Shameless: Cultural Reflections on the Vampire.
Presenter: Anita Rani
Producer: Simon Richardson

Nearly 10 years after the Larry Nassar case exposed the abuse of hundreds of young women and girls in gymnastics in the US, are athletes any safer today? The judge who sentenced him, Rosemarie Aquilina, has spent the years since campaigning for reform and says progress has been far too slow. She argues that too many sporting organisations still prioritise medals and success over athletes' welfare. She explains her concerns to Anita Rani, along with Claire Heafford, the chief executive of Gymnasts for Change, who analyses the progress made by British Gymnastics.
What might the Budget mean for household bills, childcare costs or pensions? And will the measures announced by Chancellor John Healey on Wednesday make a meaningful difference to women’s finances? Daniella Jenkins, Executive Director of independent think tank the Women's Budget Group, gives her reaction.
Last week on the programme, we spoke about Menopause Action Plans, which every organisation with over 250 employees will have to adopt by April 2027. They have come after a groundswell of campaigning and awareness-raising on how the symptoms of the menopause can affect women in the workplace, and could be mitigated by employers. However some of the research used to support this approach has been disputed and so we are digging into what we do know about this topic with two leading menopause experts. Endocrinologist Professor Susan Davis, head of the Women’s Health Research Program at Monash University in Australia, and the clinical psychologist Professor Aimee Spector who runs the Menopause Mind Lab at University College London, discuss. 
Grace Savage is an actor, electronic-pop singer-songwriter and a four-time UK Beatbox Champion. Hailing from Devon, she has carved out a space in the music industry by blending electronic pop with her vocal percussion skills. She won the title of UK Female Beatbox Champion twice and made history as part of the first female duo to win the UK Team Beatbox Championship twice. Now she’s passing on those skills by starting the Savage Sounds Beatbox School. Grace explains how she is helping women overcome self-consciousness and build confidence while using their voices.
PRESENTER: Anita Rani
PRODUCER: Melanie Abbott

The government has been consulting on its plans to tackle pay discrimination. The Equality and Human Rights Commission wants a ban on employers asking candidates about their salary history, or how much they expect to be paid, during an interview. Penny East, Chief Executive of the Fawcett Society, which campaigns for gender equality and women's rights, responds to the proposals.
Millions of people practise yoga worldwide, and women make up the vast majority of practitioners. There is now a growing movement that wants to see yogasana recognised as an Olympic sport and this has been supported by the Indian government who are calling for its inclusion ahead of the country’s bid to host the 2036 Games. To discuss the arguments for and against this, Nuala is joined by yogsana competitor Laura McDonald, yoga teacher Divya Kohli and Suzanne Newcombe, Senior Lecturer in Religious Studies at the Open University.
Earlier this year in Iran, 21-year-old Taraneh Rahimi was sentenced to death, while her twin sister, Romina, received a 25-year prison sentence. According to Iran Human Rights, at least twenty-three women have been executed in Iran this year. UN experts have called on Iran to halt executions as they say they are being used to silence dissent. Mahmood Amiry-Moghaddam, Director of Iran Human Rights, joins Nuala to discuss.
What do carnations, brambles, mallows and myrtle have in common? They are associated with the work of Kate Faulkner, a designer for Morris & Co., the company founded by William Morris. Kate's overlooked contribution is now being celebrated in the exhibition A Call to Art: William Morris and the Pre-Raphaelites at the Fitzwilliam Museum in Cambridge. Nuala speaks to the exhibition's Senior Curatorial Adviser, Karen Livingstone.
Thirty years after Tomb Raider first launched, Lara Croft remains one of gaming's most recognisable characters. Writer and game designer Cara Ellison and superfan Amy Dyson discuss her impact and legacy.
Presenter: Nuala McGovern
Producer: Dianne McGregor